Locum Consultant Ophthalmologist - Medical Retina

Job overview

The Royal Eye Infirmary at University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust is seeking to appoint a Locum Consultant Ophthalmologist with a specialist interest in Medical Retina. This is an exciting opportunity to join a high-performing, forward-thinking department delivering high-volume, patient-centred care across a diverse population.

The postholder will play a central role in the delivery and ongoing development of medical retina services. They will provide clinical leadership within a multidisciplinary team, supporting service transformation, pathway redesign, and integration with community services.

A key aspect of the role is to ensure the full implementation and sustained embedding of Getting It Right First Time (GIRFT) recommendations, driving improvements in quality, productivity, and patient outcomes across services.

The successful candidate will contribute to teaching, training, clinical governance, and research, supporting the Trust’s commitment to developing its workforce and delivering high-quality, sustainable ophthalmology services for the future.

Main duties of the job

The postholder will provide clinical leadership within the Ophthalmology service, contributing to the delivery of high-quality medical retina service. They will work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team to ensure safe, efficient, and patient-centred care.

Key responsibilities include:

• Lead and support service development.
• Ensure full implementation and sustained embedding of Getting It Right First Time (GIRFT) recommendations, promoting best practice, productivity, and continuous quality improvement.
• Provide clinical supervision, mentorship, and training for junior medical staff, fellows, and allied health professionals.
• Contribute to undergraduate and postgraduate teaching in collaboration with the University of Plymouth Peninsula Medical School.
• Engage in clinical governance activities, including audit, quality improvement, and incident review, to maintain and enhance patient safety.
• Participate in research and innovation in line with departmental and Trust priorities.
• Maintain effective communication with colleagues

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

To collaborate and work to maintain Ophthalmology services in line with strategic requirements.

To provide a consultation and advisory service to medical colleagues in other specialties in the Trust.

To develop a special interest to complement those of the existing Consultants in the specialty and in accordance with the priorities of the Trust.

To develop appropriate services and techniques required to fulfil clinical needs, within available resources.

To take responsibility for the professional supervision and appraisal of junior medical staff, in conjunction with colleagues.

To participate in the education and training of junior doctors, medical students, nurses, Orthoptists, Optometrists, and general practitioners.

To participate in the training and assessment of specialist registrars rotating through the department.

To liaise with medical staff in other specialties and participate in clinical meetings and postgraduate activities in the Trust.

To maintain and develop good communications with general practitioners.

To participate in research in accordance with priorities agreed within the Division and the Trust within available resources.

To contribute to the development of Ophthalmology services, treatment guidelines and the promotion of greater knowledge of the management of Ophthalmology conditions in primary care.

To demonstrate a firm commitment to the principles of clinical governance, including:

Developing and maintaining appropriate systems and practice to ensure effective clinical audit in Ophthalmology.